Five Ways to Prepare for the 2027 Reign Awards

It may feel early to think about awards season, but the strongest Reign Awards submissions are rarely pulled together at the last minute. They're built over time through intentional planning, documentation, and measurement.

As you're setting goals and budgets for 2027, consider making a Reign Award submission part of your firm's marketing and business development strategy. Beyond recognizing the hard work of your team, earning a Reign Award can elevate your firm's visibility, strengthen brand credibility, support recruitment efforts, and reinforce your reputation as an industry leader. A little preparation now can make the submission process much easier and position your team for success when entries open.

Here are five tips to help you get started:

1. Make a Reign Award Submission a 2027 Goal

Recognition doesn't happen by accident. If your team is doing exceptional work, set a goal now to showcase it.

Whether you're launching a standout campaign, implementing a new client engagement strategy, or delivering measurable business results, identifying award-worthy initiatives early allows you to be more intentional about tracking progress and outcomes throughout the year.

Get inspired and see what submission categories to plan for. For a list of previous Reign Awards categories and winners, visit SMPS Seattle's website. 

2. Include Awards in Your 2027 Budget

As budget planning discussions begin this fall, think ahead and set aside funds now for Reign Awards participation.
This may include submission fees, Reign Award sponsorship opportunities, team time or resources needed to support award-winning initiatives. Building these expenses into your 2027 budget now can reduce submission obstacles later.

3. Keep an Eye on MCA Criteria

The Reign Awards submission criteria closely mirror the SMPS Marketing Communications Awards (MCA) criteria, making the MCA program a valuable resource for planning your submission strategy.

Watch for the 2027 MCA criteria to be released in December 2026. Reviewing the requirements early can help you understand what judges look for and identify any gaps in documentation, measurement, or storytelling before submission season arrives.

4. Document the Journey as It Happens

One of the most common challenges during awards season is trying to recreate a year's worth of information at the last minute.

Start collecting materials as projects and campaigns unfold. Save photos, screenshots, testimonials, project milestones, and examples of your work. Most importantly, track results as they happen.

Consider gathering:

Many firms are already conducting client care surveys and planning year-end appreciation efforts. Those activities can provide valuable insights, stories, and data points that strengthen a future award submission.

5. Take Advantage of SMPS Seattle Resources

You don't have to navigate the process alone.

SMPS Seattle offers a variety of resources designed to help members develop stronger submissions and learn from past winners.

From educational programming to peer insights, these tools can help demystify the awards process and provide practical guidance along the way.

If you haven't already, check out the 2026 All Things Reign Awards: Your Questions Answered panel and other chapter resources for tips on crafting a compelling entry, telling your story effectively, and highlighting meaningful results.

Start Now, Thank Yourself Later

By setting goals, planning your budget, documenting your work, tracking results, and leveraging available resources, you'll be in a much stronger position when the 2027 Reign Awards submission period arrives. Your future self and your submission team will thank you!

Stay tuned for more Reign Awards updates, resources, and submission guidance in 2027.